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Heinz calls for Legislature to restore AHCCCS funding
Rep. Matt Heinz said he sees more and more patients who are unable to afford treatment for their catastrophic health conditions. He called for the Legislature to restore funding to the Medical Expense Deduction program.
Forum shows divide among health care professionals, politicians
At the end of a forum on healthcare this morning, an emergency room doctor raised his hand to ask a question. “How many on the panel believe the primary reason for the high cost of care is government?” he asked. Of the four speakers, only one raised their hand — Sen. Nancy Barto, a Phoenix Republican and the chairwoman of the Senate Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform Committee.
Optimism, but no certainty, over Giffords’ future
Gabrielle Giffords’ surprising and emotional return to Congress sparked a new wave of speculation about 2012, but her political future is no clearer now than it was before she walked in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Lawmakers tout Tobin’s accessibility, diligent work and sometimes-fiery demeanor
Andy Tobin is gregarious, fiery, funny and, above all else, loyal to the core — attributes that all led to his ascension to speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives late last month.
Now, Tobin has been chosen by his caucus as speaker of the House, following the departure of former Speaker Kirk Adams.
Freshman Rep. Carter leads batting averages with 4-of-4 bills passed and signed
Based on legislative batting averages — or the ratio of bills introduced to bills passed by the Legislature — rookie lawmakers were able to secure a few MVP trophies this year.
Heinz resigns as House minority whip
House Minority Whip Matt Heinz suddenly resigned his leadership post this afternoon, citing a need to spend more time and energy on legislation.
House bill would restore Medicaid funding for hospice treatment
Restoring hospice care to Medicaid-covered services in Arizona would provide better and more cost-effective care for dying patients, a lawmaker said.
House approves money aimed at stopping smugglers
The House has approved a measure that will give $5 million to Pinal County to fight drug smugglers, despite opposition from Democrats who said the money would be better spent paying for a transplant program that was cut last year.
The superminority quandary
House Democrats have introduced 178 bills in the 2011 legislative session, and at the 52-day mark only 19 of those bills remained alive.
In filing bills, they have a choice: Make a statement and lose, or move to the center and (maybe) survive.
Capitol Quotes: March 4, 2011
“You’d see Arizona State do the very best under that system. I think you’d see the University of Arizona relegated to a lesser tier … and I think you’d see NAU fold up.” — Regent Ernest Calderon, on a proposal to replace the Board of Regents with an independent board of trustees for each university.
House passes bills adding restrictions on abortions
The house passed two more abortion bills Monday. One would impose a number of new requirements on clinics or practitioners offering abortions. The other prevents the giving of tax credits for financial contributions to entities that perform abortions.
